Should I switch to Mac?
in Desktops ·
@ Larry Johnson38
Let's go through this systematically:
1) we are talking about the first iMac with an aluminum chassis;
2) regarding the differences between OS X versions? I won't list them all; every new version of Mac OS X brought some changes, big or small, to the OS itself; there is more info written here, which should be plenty for a beginner;
3) are both cards good for heavier gaming? (like The Sims 3, which, by the way, has a Mac version too); in my previous post, I gave you a link to a site where you can check out the gaming performance of specific graphics cards, including these two; for The Sims 3, there aren't specific benchmarks, it just says "may run fluently," so it should play smoothly without stuttering or freezing; for actual user experiences, you're better off asking seasoned gamers;
4) how is it working on iMac computers? I think it's enough to say it's a "seamless integration of hardware and software"; everything works smoothly right from the start. You asked about MS Office? There is Microsoft Office for Mac 2011, but instead, I'd recommend trying Apple iWork, which includes apps for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations; files created there export easily to the corresponding MS Office formats (DOC, XLS, PPT);
5) peripherals: although my iMac model comes with a wired Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard, I opted for the wireless (Bluetooth) versions; ergonomics, blisters? I wouldn't say I've had any in the last 4 years. I am thinking of picking up a Magic Mouse (regardless of the price) so I can try out those two-finger gestures; the keyboard is small and feels a bit cold (aluminum, after all), but all the keys are right where they should be; I even got our local characters (ñ, é, etc.), and I'm typing this on that very keyboard; the layout is !"#$%&'()=?*, under the last two symbols (question mark and asterisk) you'll find / and +;
6) how long do the batteries last on a wireless mouse and keyboard? About 3-4 months, without exaggeration; besides, the iMac is almost never turned off, unless there's a thunderstorm or lightning;
7) how long does it take for the iMac to enter standby ( Sleep)? How long to wake up? And what about a fresh boot versus a full shutdown? Either just the screen or the entire iMac can go to sleep within 1 minute, and waking it takes just a few seconds; whether I'm restarting it (say, after a system update) or plugging it in, the whole system (the one I'm using to write this) boots up in about 30 seconds before I see the log in screen; I assume these newer models probably shave another second off that boot time;
8) if you think you won't like the Mac/Mac OS X combo and want to install Windows, you're in for a disappointment, Benjamin King2; there's no point in spending that money. That said, Boot Camp does allow you to install Windows on a separate partition; otherwise, you can install Windows and other operating systems using virtualization software (VMware Fusion, Parallels Desktop, VirtualBox); installing Windows directly via Mac OS X isn't possible (unless you're looking at a Hackintosh)
9) there are thousands of applications for the Mac platform for every conceivable purpose; they usually come in DMG (disk image) or ZIP formats. An EXE is not an executable on a Mac; it won't run, and nothing is being sent to any Apple headquarters. For home-made games burned onto a CD, the same rule applies. The Mac App Store is NOT the only source for Mac games; many titles are cross-platform, meaning they were written for both Mac and Windows. Viruses for Mac OS X don't exist—if you're curious, read this short discussion on the Apple forum
That's all from me for now 🙂
Let's go through this systematically:
1) we are talking about the first iMac with an aluminum chassis;
2) regarding the differences between OS X versions? I won't list them all; every new version of Mac OS X brought some changes, big or small, to the OS itself; there is more info written here, which should be plenty for a beginner;
3) are both cards good for heavier gaming? (like The Sims 3, which, by the way, has a Mac version too); in my previous post, I gave you a link to a site where you can check out the gaming performance of specific graphics cards, including these two; for The Sims 3, there aren't specific benchmarks, it just says "may run fluently," so it should play smoothly without stuttering or freezing; for actual user experiences, you're better off asking seasoned gamers;
4) how is it working on iMac computers? I think it's enough to say it's a "seamless integration of hardware and software"; everything works smoothly right from the start. You asked about MS Office? There is Microsoft Office for Mac 2011, but instead, I'd recommend trying Apple iWork, which includes apps for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations; files created there export easily to the corresponding MS Office formats (DOC, XLS, PPT);
5) peripherals: although my iMac model comes with a wired Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard, I opted for the wireless (Bluetooth) versions; ergonomics, blisters? I wouldn't say I've had any in the last 4 years. I am thinking of picking up a Magic Mouse (regardless of the price) so I can try out those two-finger gestures; the keyboard is small and feels a bit cold (aluminum, after all), but all the keys are right where they should be; I even got our local characters (ñ, é, etc.), and I'm typing this on that very keyboard; the layout is !"#$%&'()=?*, under the last two symbols (question mark and asterisk) you'll find / and +;
6) how long do the batteries last on a wireless mouse and keyboard? About 3-4 months, without exaggeration; besides, the iMac is almost never turned off, unless there's a thunderstorm or lightning;
7) how long does it take for the iMac to enter standby ( Sleep)? How long to wake up? And what about a fresh boot versus a full shutdown? Either just the screen or the entire iMac can go to sleep within 1 minute, and waking it takes just a few seconds; whether I'm restarting it (say, after a system update) or plugging it in, the whole system (the one I'm using to write this) boots up in about 30 seconds before I see the log in screen; I assume these newer models probably shave another second off that boot time;
8) if you think you won't like the Mac/Mac OS X combo and want to install Windows, you're in for a disappointment, Benjamin King2; there's no point in spending that money. That said, Boot Camp does allow you to install Windows on a separate partition; otherwise, you can install Windows and other operating systems using virtualization software (VMware Fusion, Parallels Desktop, VirtualBox); installing Windows directly via Mac OS X isn't possible (unless you're looking at a Hackintosh)
9) there are thousands of applications for the Mac platform for every conceivable purpose; they usually come in DMG (disk image) or ZIP formats. An EXE is not an executable on a Mac; it won't run, and nothing is being sent to any Apple headquarters. For home-made games burned onto a CD, the same rule applies. The Mac App Store is NOT the only source for Mac games; many titles are cross-platform, meaning they were written for both Mac and Windows. Viruses for Mac OS X don't exist—if you're curious, read this short discussion on the Apple forum
That's all from me for now 🙂